Grille



April 20, 1937. E ANDERSON 2,077,734

GRILLE Filed Dec. 26, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 *1 1 V4 km Mid .1 4 2 fl s qJ 14 L j I gf f" "ir '1 q a; 1 NH 5 3 E r 2 if? F mu 5 j x u 5 i 5INVENTOR W L. 6km W m MATTORNEY April 0, 1937. E. L. ANDERSON 2,077,734

GRILLE Filed Dec. 26, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IINVENTOR W KM MATTORNEYApril 20, 1937. E. L. ANDERSON GRILLE Filed Dec. 26, 1934 4 SheetsSheet4 l I n u a I i I III-TI.

|NVENTOR ML. M y BY {4, ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 20, 19 37 PATENT OFFICEGRILLE Edward L. Anderson, Grosse Ile, Mich,

to American Blower Corporation,

assignor Detroit,

Mich, acorporation of Delaware Application December 28, 1934, Serial No.759,176

18 Claims.

This invention relates to systems for introducing air into one spacefrom another, and more particularly to outlet grilles or registers forsuch systems. i

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a new andimproved'grille or register for the discharge opening of ventilating orheating systems, such as the opening in a wall of a room, and to providea grille for this purposehaving improved air distributingcharacteristics.

Another object of the invention is to provide a grille for the dischargeopening of ventilating or heating systems and to provide a grille forthis purpose having anew and improved arrangement of parts for improvingdiffusion and distribution of air discharged therethrough,

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved grillefor the discharge opening into a room of heating or ventilating systemsand one which induces rapid intermingling of room air with incoming airto quickly balance the difference in temperature between the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a grille for the outletopening of ventilating systems into a room, and to provide a grille forthis purpose so constructed as to cause the velocity of the air passingtherethrough to be increased, to obtain good circulation anddistribution of air throughout the room and for doing so in a mannersuch that the presence of drafts or cold zones is not apparent topersons inthe room.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved grillehaving a plurality of passageways for air and to provide a grille ofthis character in which the size of the passageways may be readilyvaried to control the volume of air passing therethrough and to alsovary its direction of flow.

A further object of the invention is to provide a grille of the abovementioned character having improved air diffusing and distributingcharacteristics yet one which is simple in construction and economicalto manufacture.

The invention consists in the improved construction and combination ofparts. to be more fully described hereinafter and the novelty of whichwill be particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, to be taken as a part of thisspecification, Ihave fully and clearly illustrated a preferredembodiment of my invention, in which drawings- Figure 1 is a front viewshown in elevation of my improved grille;

Fig. 2 is a view shown in cross section taken along the line 2-2 of Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a view of-a part of the grille shown disassembled to show howit is formed;

Fig. 4 is a front view of a grille and damper therefor embodyingfeatures of my invention;

Fig. 5 isv a view shown in cross section taken along the line 1-8 ofFig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the grille showing thedamper in different positions;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing one of the positions in whichthe damper may be arranged;

Fig. 8 is a plan view shown in cross section of a grille having twodampers and positions .in which they may be arranged to direct the air;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, of a grille shown incross sectionwith the dampers in still another position;

Fig. 10 is an endview in cross section taken along the line lil-lii ofFig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a side view shown in cross section taken along the line li-Ilof Fig. 5;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged view shown partly in elevation and partly incross section of parts of the damper operating means, and

V Fig. 13 is an enlarged view shown partly in elevation and partly incross section taken in the direction of the arrows li-il of Fig. 11.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1, 2nd 3, thereisshown an air outlet grille or register for the directing and diffusingof air discharged therethrough, the grille shown being of a typesuitable for mounting in the wall of a room and for use either withheating or air conditioning systems. This grille comprises a frame I anda plurality of spaced vanes 2, arranged behind the frame to providepassageways I for air. In order to provide a grille by means of whichthe air discharged therethrough into a room is efficiently diffused andmixed with-the room air, and in a manner so that no cold zones or draftsare apparent, the passageways 3 are spaced and the face of the grilleclosed between the outlets 4 of adjacent passageways. Thus, when air isdischarged through the passageways I of the grille, areas of relativelylow pressure are produced between adiacent streams of air, due to thevelocity of the air, and into these areas of reduced pressure, the airof the room flows and is rapidly intermingled with the incoming air thusinducing circulation of air throughout the entire room. I obtained thisdesirable result with an economically constructed grille, theconstruction including the use of a plurality of sheet metalchannel-shaped members arranged inspaced relation behind the frame iwith the connecting sides 5 of the channelshaped members toward the faceof the frame, the rearwardly extending sides constituting the vanes 2.

Thus the channel-shaped members may be readily formed and arranged inspaced relation behind the frame I so that adjacent vanes or sides 2 ofadjacent channel-shaped members cooperate to form a plurality of spacedpassageways 3. Also the sides 5, of the channel-shaped members, serve toprovide closed spaces on the face of the grille against which room airis drawn. Air that is out of range of the force of the air streams flowsto the areas of low pres sure maintained by the velocity of the airstreams and, as shown in Fig. 11, enters the zones of low pressure atboth the top and bottom of the frame. The air thus flowing in at the topand bottom of the frame impinges against the closed wall faces 5 and isdiverted downwardly, the upper and lower streams of air interminglingwith each other and with the incoming air streams on each side. Each ofthe channelshaped members is provided on the faces 5 with an indentedportion 5' providing a plurality of channels or pockets on the face ofthe grille in which the air pressure is reduced and as a re sult intowhich currents of room air are induced to flow.

Preferably, the frame is constructed of sheet metal having sides 6, i,it and 9 forming a body for insertion in an opening in a wall and havingoutwardly extending flanges iii, ll, i2 and I3 which cooperate to formwhat may be termed the face of the frame. Edge portions of the sides 6,i, 8 and 9 are first bent inwardly and 40 then outwardly to form anabutment or rearwardly facing shoulder l4 around the inside of theframe, the edge i5 of which defines the opening iii of the frame. Thechannel-shaped members extend from side ID to side H seating 45 againstthe shoulder i4 and may be welded or otherwise suitably fixed thereto.

When grilles are employed as the discharge opening into a room of aventilating system, they are usually located in a wall and near the 50ceiling of the room in order to obtain as good distribution of the coldair as possible throughout the room. The reason for this, of course, isthat the colder and consequently heavier air discharged into the roomsoon descends after leaving the grille, resulting not onlyinunsatisfactory distribution of the cold air throughout the room butalso resulting in drafts or cold zones uncomfortable to persons who maybe beneath the grille. In order to provide a grille for the dischargeopening of ventilating systems and 'one by reason of which cold air iswell distributed throughout a room without apparent cold zones, Iprovide the passageways 3 tapered, tapering from relatively large inlets20 to relatively small outlets 4. As air flows through the passageways 3its speed is increased by reason of the tapered sides 2 which result inits being projected farther into the room thanwould be the case ifdischarged through passageways formed by parallel sides. It will now beseen that not only is good distribution "of the air through the roomobtained, by projecting it farther thereinto, but the relatively highvelocity of the air at the outlets 4 produces a relatively low area ofreduced pressure at the face of the grille and in the indented portions5. Also. it will be seen that the air passing through the taperedpassageways 3 is crowded or compressed so that slightly beyond the faceof the grille it tends to expand in all directions and consequentlytends to rapidly intermingle with the room air.

To obtain tapered passageways, the sides or vanes 2 are angularlydisposed relative to sides 5 so that adjacent sides of adjacentchannelshaped members cooperate to form the spaced passageways 3. Todischarge air over a greater area, the passageways 3 extend at an angleto the face of the frame, and vary in degree of angularity each side ofthe center channel-shaped member 24. As shown in Fig. 2, the centerchannel-shaped member 24 has its sides or vanes 2 converging rearwardly.The sides 2 of the channel-shaped members, either side of the centermember, have one side bent at substantially an obtuse angle with side 5and the other at substantially an oblique angle with side 5, as shown inFig. 3, and the degree of angularity of the sides of successivechannel-shaped members vary so that when assembled they cooperate toform a plurality of tapered angularly extending passageways for air,which passageways vary in degree of angularity, either side of thecenter of the frame. At the sides 3 and 9 of the frame, a half of achannel-shaped member may be utilized as shown. The rear ends of thevanes 2 may be curled outwardly, as at 22, to provide a larger inlet forinducing the flow of air thereinto.

Referring now to Figs. 5 to 11, there is shown a grille having a frame30 similar to the frame i, of the grille heretofore described. Behindthe frame 30 is arranged a plurality of triangular shaped members 32with sides 33 arranged towardthe front of the grille and sides 35extending to an apex toward the rear of the frame. The triangular shapedmembers 32 are arranged in spaced relation so that sides 34 cooperatewith adjacent sides of adjacent members 32 to form a plurality oftapered passageways 36 tapering from relatively large inlets defined bythe apexes of adjacent members 32 to relatively small outlets 38. Thesides 33 of the triangular shaped members serve to close the spacesbetween the outlets 38 and, as previously described in connection withthe grille of Figs. 1 and 2, a space of reduced pressure is producedalong the outer face of sides 33 between projected streams of air intowhich room air flows, thus causing a circulating of air throughout theroom toward the grille. As in the previously described grille. indentedportions 33 are provided in the sides 33 forming ofiset spaces slightlyback of the discharge openings 38 in which a substantial lowering of thepressure is caused and maintained by the velocity of the air streams oneach side. It will be understood that the members 32 need notnecessarily be triangular in shape as it will be seen, that they couldbe angleshaped, omitting sides 33 if desired, and still cooperate toprovide a plurality of tapered passageways, between which room air wouldflow to the spaces therebe'tween at the face of the grille.

A second series of angle-shaped members 40 is arranged behind members 32and staggered in relation thereto so that sides 4i cooperate withadjacent sides 34 of members 32 to form a plurality of angularlyextending passageways 43 in communication with outlets 38. The members40 are relatively spaced across the width of the frame providingopenings 45 between adja- 98. VtN Hi .'-\HUN cent members at the rear ofthe frame for the entrance of air. The rear ends of sides 4| may becurled relatively outwardly. as at 45, to induce flow of air into theopenings 45. In the present 5 showing, sides 4| of each member 45 areconnected by a third side 55. However if desired, this sid anieomiiteiend me sides 4| extend to an apex toward th e fr-6nt"'of theframe.

Nor need the sides 4| 0'! members 40, nor'thg 10 We 32 nec'essafilybeconnected or a plura ty oiiipafiz'dfiltemately angularly wm gupassageways. Inany event, it s mm an sides 4| be relatively angularlydis- 1 posed so that they cooperate to form a plurality of angularlyextending tapered passageways 43, tapering from relativelylarge inletsin communication with openings 45-to relatively small outletscommunicating with outlets 38 in order to increase the velocity of airpassing therethrough.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 11, the members 40 are welded orotherwise suitably secured at both ends to movably supported top andbottom cross members 52 and 53 so that they may be moved as a damper tovary the size of the passageways 43. The inner edges of the crossmembers 52 and 53 are provided with a plurality of angle-shaped cut-outs44 to conform* to the shape of the members 40 and also for clearing theapexes of the triangular-shaped members 32. In the grille shown in Fig.5, the damper is mounted at each end on a shaft. or rod 55 which in turnis pivotably and slidably supported by a bracket 55. Connecting rods 58are provided, one at each .end of the damper and. extend between thecross members 52 and 53 with its ends extending into apertured brackets59 which are welded or otherwise suitably fixed to the cross members.The rods 55 extend through the openings 38 and through aligned aperturesin the end members 40 and vertical rods 58, the ends being threaded toreceive locking nuts 60. The ends of the rods are formed with a reducedportion 62 providing a shoulder 63, and between this shoulder 53 and thenuts the members 40 and rods 58 are tightly clamped.

Preferably the brackets 58 are fixed to the members 32 intermediate theends thereof such as by screws 65. The brackets are each formed having asemi-circular portion in which is provided a slot 64, Fig. 13, throughwhich the rods 55 extend and which permit pivotal movement of the rodstherein. The brackets 56 are provided with seats for the pivot members56, the seats being formed in the present instance by a bore and acounterbore forming the edge 51 on which the tapered portion 68 of thepivot seats.

60 The reduced portions 69 of the pivots 55 are threaded to receive thenuts Ill. The rods 55 extend slidably through apertures 1| in thepivotal members 55 and are provided with knobs or handles 12. Air may bedelivered under pres- 5 sure to the rear of the grille through shaft or'stack 13, as shown in Fig. 11, and discharged through the grille intothe-room. The damper may be moved laterally or toward or away from themembers 32 to vary the size of the passage- 7 ways 43 to regulate thevolume of incoming air and to direct the airin diiferent directions.

In Fig. 6, two positions of the damper are shown. In full lines, therods .55 have been pushed in, carrying the damper to the rear and awayfrom the members 32, and has also been xamine pivoted, carrying thedamper to the right as seen on the drawings. In this position, the sizesof. alternate passageways 43 have been increasedpermitting more air toflow therethrough while the other passageways effected by such movementhave been reduced in size. By pivoting the rod 55 to neutral positionand pulling it outwardly, the damper is moved to close the openings 38as shown in dotted lines.

In Figs. 7, 8 and 9, there are shown other arrangements of dampers. Forexample, in Fig. 7, the damper has been moved to the extreme left, thusclosing those passageways which extend toward the right and enlargingthe other passageways so that all of the air is directed to the left asseen on the drawings. In Fig. 8, there is shown a grille having twoindependently movable dampers arranged so that some of the air isdirected to the right and some to the left. In Fig. 9 is shown thegrille of Fig. 8 having the two dampers arranged in still a differentmanner. In this arrangement the adjacent ends of the dampers at thecenter of the grille have been moved rearwardly and the other endsforwardly. This results in the passageways 38" being relatively largerthan the others and successive passageways vary in size from the 'centerof the grille to the ends. It will also be seen that the damper can beadjusted so that the passageways are either tapered or uniform in size,as for example the passageways 38' which in this arrangement of thedamper are not tapered, and furthermore that the degree of taper of thepassageways can be varied as desired.

From the foregoing description, it will now be seen that I have provideda new and improved grille for diffusing and directing air and one havingimproved air distributing and circulating characteristics. This improveddistribution is accomplished by a' grille through which the velocity ofthe air is increased, resulting in its being discharged to a greaterdistance into a room than is attainable by ordinary grilles. In

addition I have provided agrLlesmconstmnted that 2 322 of iuslawgglssdnah the face thereof, causedluhe velo c ygfmja; WP fa inintcwhicfiaTreas the room air flows and is readi y intermingled with th in-Tgming air. This faalitate sThe ng of the incoming all" with thatalready in the room so that the timerequired for the balancing of thetemperatures of the room air and incoming air is materially reduced.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesis:

l. A grille comprising a frame, and a plurality of relatively spacedvanes arranged back of said frame, said vanes being relatively arrangedto cooperate in forming a plurality 6f passageways for air, the vanesforming the passageways 7 having their rear edges bent relativelyoutward and rounded to induce crowding of air into said passageways toincrease the effective flow capacity of said passageways.

2. A grille comprising a frame, and a plurality of vanes arranged behindthe frame, some of said vanes being angularly disposed relative toadjacent vanes and to the face of the frame and cooperating with. saidadjacent .vanes to form a plurality of tapered passageways, taperingfrom relatively large inlets to relatively small outlets for increasingthe velocity of air passing therethrough, the vanes forming saidpassageways having their rear edges bent relatively utwargland roundedto induce ammo said passageways to increase the effective flow capacityof said passageways.

3. A grille comprising a frame, and a plurality of channel-shapedmembers arranged behind the frame with the connecting sides thereofdisposed toward the face of the frame and with the other sides extendingrearwardly thereof, said channe l shaped members being arranged ins'fc'd're lation with theadjacent rearwardly extending sides of adjacentmembers cooperating to form a plurality of passageways for air, saidchannel-shaped members having rearwardly loe ntportign s in theconnecting sides thereof providing relieved spaces wherein air isinduced to flow and rapidly inter mingle with the disghar ging ai r d ue to the LIA) pressu gtalmdlinsidcspaceslb uthg velocity of the streamof discharging air.

4. A grille comprising a frame, and a plurality of relatively spacedchannel-shaped members behind the frame with the connecting sides ofsaid members toward the face of the frame and the other sides extendingrearwardly thereof, adjacent rearwardly extending sides of adjacentmembers being angularly disposed relative to the face of the frame inplanes diverging from the front to the rear thereof, and with the sidesof said members relatively arying indggrfi roian Bl E l whereby theycooperate to form a plurality of spacedjaperggpas sagwys angularlyextending and lmtd ja li islad 'rsslgm e 5. A grille comprising a frame,andfilfiraility of angle-shaped members arranged behind the frame withtheir apexes toward the rear thereof,

said members being arranged in spaced relation with adjacent sides ofadjacent members cooperating to form a series of spaced taperedpassageways, tapering from relatively large inlets at the rear of theframe to relatively small outlets at the front of the frame, and asecond plurality of angle-shaped members relatively arranged instaggered spaced relation between the first-named members and with theirapexes disposed toward said outlets, the angle between opposite sides ofsaid second-named members being less than the angle formed between theadjacent sides of adjain staggered spaced relation between thefirstnamed members and spaced therebehind with their sides cooperatingwith adjacent sides of said first-named angle members to form aplurality of angularly extending passageways for air.

'7. A grille comprising a frame, a plurality of angle-shaped membersarranged in relatively spaced relation behind .said frame with theirapexes toward the rear thereof, a second plurality of angle-shapedmembers relatively arranged in staggered spaced relation between thefirst and spaced therebehind with their sides cooperating with adjacentsides of said first-named angle members to form a plurality of angularlyextending passageways for air, the sides forming said passageways beingin overlapping relation and extending in the same general direction.

8. A grille comprising a frame, a plurality of triangular-shaped membersarranged behind the frame with a side of each member toward the face 75of the frame and the other two sides extending rearwardly to an apex,said members being arranged in spaced relation with the rearwardlyextending adjacent sides of adjacent members cooperating to form aplurality of spaced tapered passageways, tapering from relatively largeinlets to relatively small outlets, a plurality of angleshaped membersarranged behind said triangularshaped members one in each of saidtapered passageways with their sides converging forwardly andcooperating with sides of said tapered passageways to form a pluralityof angularly extending tapered passageways for the passage of air,tapering from relatively large inlets to relatively small outlets,movable connecting means for the said angle members, and means formoving said connecting means and said angle members to vary the size ofthe angularly disposed passageways. I v

9. A grille comprising a frame, a plurality of alternately angularlydisposed vanes arranged behind the frame with openings for air betweensome of said vanes, a second plurality of alternately angularly disposedvanes arranged behind the first-named vans with openings for air betweensome of said vanes, said second plurality of vanes being staggeredrelatively to the first cooperating therewith to form a plurality ofspaced angularly extending passageways, movable connecting means forsaid second-named plurality of vanes, and a slidably supported pivotablemember for moving said connecting means and said second-named vaneswhereby the size of the angularly disposed passageways may be varied.

10. A grille comprising a frame, a plurality of angularly disposed vanesarranged behind the frame, said vanes being relatively spaced, a movabledamper arranged behind said vanes and having wall means cooperatingtherewith to form a plurality of passageways for air, the capacities ofsaid passageways being variable by said damper, said damper having inletopenings therein opening into said passageways, said inlet openingsbeing defined by portions of said wall means with the said portionsbeing bent outwardly and rounded to induce crowding of the air throughsaid inlets to thereby increase the effective flow capacity of saidinlets.

11. A grille comprising a frame, wall means arranged behind the frameproviding a plurality of spaced outlets for air, a movable damperarranged behind said wall means and having wall means cooperative withsaid first-named wall means in overlapping relation thereto to provide aplurality of tapered passageways for air, tapering from relatively largeinlets to relatively small outlets with their longitudinal axesangularly extending relative to the face of said frame, and means formoving said damper to vary the size of said passageways.

- 12. A grille comprising a frame, a plurality of vanes arranged behindsaid frame and angularly disposed relative to the face of the frame withsuccessive vanes alternating in direction of extension, some of saidvanes defining outlet openings for air, a plurality of channel-shapedmembers spaced back of said vanes in staggered spaced relation thereto,said channel-shaped members having a wall disposed toward and overlyingsaid outlet openings and having sides extending rearwardly therefrom,the sides of each channel-shaped member extending at angles relative tosaid wall and outwardly from each other, the said sides cooperating withsaid vanes to provide a plurality of angularly extending passagewayssuccessively alternating in direction of extension and opening into saidoutlets, the adjacent rear edges of adjacent channelshaped memberscooperating to provide inlet openings to said passageways. I

13. A grille comprising a frame, a plurality of vanes arranged behindsaid frame and angularly disposed relative to the face of the frame withsuccessive vanes alternating in direction of extension, some of saidvanes defining outlet openings for air, a plurality of channel-shapedmembers spaced back of said vanes in staggered spaced relation thereto,said channel-shaped members having a wall disposed toward and overlyingsaid outlet openings and having sides extending rearwardly therefrom,the sides of each channel-shaped member extending at angles relative tosaid wall and outwardly from each other, the said sides cooperating withsaid vanes to provide a plurality of angularly extending passagewayssuccessively alternating in direction of extension and opening into saidoutlets, the adjacent rear edges of adjacent channel-shaped memberscooperating to provide inlet openings to said passageways, said rearedges defining said inlets being relatively outwardly bent and roundedto induce crowding of air through said openings to thereby increase theeifective capacities of said openings. I

, 14. A fluid discharge device comprising a pair of wall membersconverging in the direction of fluid flow and spaced to provide anoutlet, a member positioned on the inlet side of said wall members andhaving side walls converging in the direction of fluid flow, the opposedwall surfaces of said side walls and said wall members cooperating toprovide flow passageways meeting at said outlet, the side wall and thewall member of each passageway converging in the direction of fluidflow.

40 15. A fiuid discharge device comprising a pair members and havingside walls converging in the direction of fluid flow, the opposed wallsurfaces of said side walls and said wall members cooperating to provideflow passageways meeting at said outlet, the side wall and the wallmember of each passageway converging in the direction of fluid flow, andmeans operable for moving said member relative to said pair of wallmembers to vary the flow areas of said passageways.

16. A register having a plurality of parallel spaced apart fixeddeflectors of generally triangular shape with their front wallsgenerally parallel to the plane of the register, and movable baffiemembers respectively interposed between said deflectors and having theiropposite side walls inclined correspondingly to the opposed walls 'ofthe deflector, each of said baiile members having a front wall generallyparallel to the plane of. the register, and means for simultaneouslyadjusting said baflie members with respect to said deflectors.

17. A grille comprising a plurality of relatively spaced vanescooperating to provide a plurality of air flow passageways having inletsand outlets, said inlets being defined by edge portions of the vaneswith the said edge portions forming eachinlet being bentoutwardlyrelative to each other and rounded to induce crowding of air into theflow passageways.

18. A grille comprising a frame, a plurality of relatively spacedchannel-shaped members disposed behind said frame with the side walls ofsaid channel-shaped members extending rearwardly, adjacent side walls ofadjacent channelshaped members cooperating to provide air flowpassageways having inlets and outlets with rear portions of the sidewalls defining the inlets and being bent outwardly relative to eachother and rounded to induce crowding of air into the flow passageways.

EDWARD L. ANDERSON.

